title: Colorectal cancer in elderly patients: from best supportive care to cure.
abstract: Colorectal cancer is one of the major causes of cancer mortality in the elderly population (median age at diagnosis of 71 years) in Western Countries. Moreover patients with metastatic disease are often elderly with significant co- morbidities. Unfortunately, elderly patients are often untreated and under-represented in clinical trials, even if most clinical trials that have included this setting of population have shown similar survival rates and toxicities to younger patients. Age itself should not be considered for candidacy to chemotherapy but it should be taken in consideration the great heterogeneity of co-morbidities present in the elderly population. Therefore, the best treatment strategy for elderly colorectal cancer patients has not yet been defined. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment is recommended to evaluate the best strategy treatment and to reduce the adverse events. In fact, while fit elderly patients could receive the same therapeutic treatment as the younger counterpart, a palliative approach should be taken in consideration for frail elderly patients and for those with a short life expectancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini 2 - 33081 Aviano (PN) - Italy. mberretta@cro.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berretta
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Benedetto
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Francia
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lo Menzo
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmeri
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Paoli
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tirelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011787:Quality of Health Care